How to Throw a Fab Bachelorette Weekend in New Orleans

Around the end of September, you may have caught a weekend trip on the GWS IG stories that our gal Katie took to New Orleans. She surprised her sister Courtney (along with her bridesmaids) with a trip to NOLA for her bachelorette party! So today we’re sharing Katie’s tips on how to throw a classy bachelorette party in the big easy – thanks to the help of our friends at the Ace Hotel New Orleans. We’re excited to share with you how to make your trip special and fun for any destination!

Getting there: From LAX, a quick 3.5 hr flight into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and a 20 minute car ride will get you right to the Ace Hotel, which sits only a few blocks from the French Quarter in the Warehouse District.

Step 1. Book a Swanky Hotel

There are a lot of great areas to stay within New Orleans (garden district, warehouse district and the French Quarter to name a few!) but we were really impressed with the Ace Hotel New Orlean’s perfect location in the city. With it being in the Warehouse District, it’s a short 15 minute walk to the French Quarter (a place we were in frequently) and is in a quiet and clean neighborhood. Close to art galleries, museums and cocktails – it’s basically the ideal location for a girl’s trip to the city.

Built in the 1920’s, this 9 story hotel was once a Barnett furniture store, and you can tell! Lots of beautiful architecture, timeless framework and that old world feeling make the Ace a super IG-worthy place to be (am I right?!). We loved that there was also a Stumptown Coffee Roasters right off the side of the lobby – perfect for a morning coffee and pastry to start the day.

And bride’s – the Ace is available for weddings! With several rooms to choose from (indoor or outdoor), seriously good food on-site and that NOLA charm, what else could you need? And don’t forget that magical second line moment! Can we get married again?

2. Bring the Essentials

No bachelorette trip is complete without the essentials! A night on the town ensemble, instax for capturing all the fun moments plus bride tribe necessities are all you need (and maybe some cute, comfy walking shoes).

3. Take a Walking Tour of the City

While our trip was just for the weekend, we made sure to make the most of seeing the city – which was by foot of course! The French Quarter was pretty magical and we loved walking around, taking in the beautiful charm of the city and stopping in beautiful places for food + drinks!

There are a few companies who do offer actual walking tours of the city – and if that’s your thing we would recommend a morning tour! But we loved taking everything in on our own terms.

A favorite stop of ours was Napoleon House, originally owned by the mayor in 1812. Serious character here! Oh and the muffalettas are good too ;)

4. Ride a Swamp Tour

Few things make me feel more touristy than seeing alligators from a small boat – but I think our tribe was super surprised to love this part of the trip! Our ‘captain’ was so knowledgable and friendly on our morning ride and the scenery was so beautiful! Definitely recommend taking a morning to see the swamps (and plus, look at all that gorgeous Spanish Moss growing on the trees!).

5. Lounge by the Pool

After all that walking and sight-seeing, you’re going to need a break! We headed up to Ace’s rooftop pool and grabbed a cocktail at their bar while we cooled off and relaxed. It was exactly what we needed before heading out to see the city at night!

6. Dine at Josephine Estelle

We were lucky enough on our first night to be treated to dinner at Ace’s restaurant, Josephine Estelle. A stunning interior with an osteria-style experience that pairs Italian cuisine with the South. Sign us up! We had pasta (lots of pasta…) and chicken & ribeye dish. It did not disappoint!

7. Have a Café au lait and Beignet at Cafe du Monde

Did you really go to New Orleans if you didn’t get a café au lait + beignet from Cafe du Monde? We may have made a few stops here on our trip (breakfast lunch and dinner!) and we couldn’t get enough. The hype is real guys! How many is too many? Asking for a friend…

We hope you enjoyed our bachelorette tips for keeping it classy in New Orleans!